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The Cap versus The Pumpkin: Bulgaria’s mafia state reaches breaking point

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:14 GMT

Netflix, eat your heart out. Bulgaria’s latest political crisis hinges on a roadside bomb, an Israeli munitions expert and Godfather-style death threats. The lead characters are thuggish Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev, nicknamed “The Cap,” and (equally thuggish) former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, nicknamed “The Pumpkin.”Confused? No worries, everyone is. But it’s undoubtedly a crux moment for rule of law in Bulgaria and efforts to turn the Balkan country of 7 million people into a fully-fledged democracy, so POLITICO will attempt to unpick the wild twists and turns of the high drama since May 1, when Geshev claims someone attempted to blow up his bullet-proof SUV as it passed a bend on a country road.   At the heart of the crisis lies the all-important role of chief prosecutor. Geshev has long been identified by anti-corruption and pro-democracy activists as one of the biggest obstacles to Bulgaria’s convergence with EU norms. (He is dubbed “The Cap” because of his tradem...

Prince Harry and Meghan allege ‘near catastrophic’ paparazzi car chase in NY

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:14 GMT

(CNN) — Prince Harry and his wife Meghan were involved in a chaotic car chase with paparazzi in New York on Tuesday night that could have resulted in a “catastrophic” outcome, their spokesperson has alleged.The Sussexes were pursued by photographers after leaving the Women of Vision Awards at the city’s Ziegfeld Ballroom in a convoy that also included Doria Ragland, Meghan’s mother. The couple were left shaken by the incident, although ultimately no-one was hurt, their security detail told CNN.Police said “numerous” photographers made the Sussexes’ transport “challenging,” but that there were no reported collisions, injuries or arrests.According to couple’s account, the altercation with photographers was prolonged and involved multiple traffic violations. “Last night, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms. Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi,” the couple’s spokesperson said.“This relentless pursuit, lastin...

Rare fossils reveal the butterfly ‘tree of life’ over the past 100 million years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:14 GMT

(CNN) — The world’s largest butterfly tree of life is helping researchers determine where the winged insects originated when they first appeared on Earth about 100 million years ago.During the age of the dinosaurs, some moths transitioned from flying at night to daytime, evolving to take advantage of the nectar from flowers that developed alongside bees.Scientists first uncovered in 2019 how this single shift to daytime activity served as the evolutionary turning point for all butterfly species. But researchers had yet to uncover the full history of the nearly 19,000 species of butterflies that exist around the world.A global team of scientists began working on an ambitious project in 2015 to assemble a detailed model tracing the evolutionary history and species relationships for butterflies. Together, the researchers collected DNA from nearly 2,300 species from 90 countries that represent all butterfly families.The researchers used four supercomputers in Europe and t...

NYC bike path terrorist set to be sentenced to serve life in prison after nearly two dozen victims testify

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:14 GMT

(CNN) — The terrorist who drove a rented truck into pedestrians and cyclists on a New York City bike path in 2017, killing eight people, is set to be sentenced to serve life in prison Wednesday after about two dozen people spoke about the impact of the attack.Sayfullo Saipov effectively learned his sentence in March, when the jury in the penalty phase of his trial in Manhattan federal court told a judge it was unable to reach an unanimous decision favoring the death penalty on any of the nine capital counts against him. The capital counts each carry a mandatory life imprisonment sentence by law.Sayfullo Saipov was convicted of 28 counts in the fatal attack. Credit: St. Charles County, Mo., Dept of CorrectionsAt Wednesday’s hearing, 21 survivors and victims’ family members spoke about the attack in emotional, tear-filled speeches.Marion Van Reeth, a Belgian tourist who lost both of her legs in the attack, asked to pass by Saipov in her wheelchair before she spoke.“Mr. ...

Celtics’ Danilo Gallinari hasn’t lost hope of returning this season: ‘It’s still in my mind’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:14 GMT

Danilo Gallinari walked off the court early Wednesday afternoon at the Auerbach Center following a hard workout, his practice jersey soaked with sweat. The Celtics forward was asked how he’s doing.“I’m cooked,” Gallinari said.Gallinari was tired. But he was also happy and encouraged. As he continues to rehab from the torn ACL he suffered in his left knee last August, this is part of the process. After his Celtics teammates wrapped up shootaround ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Gallinari and some assistant coaches began a full-court workout. Gallinari simulated game play as he played defense, ran around screens and shot 3-pointers, all while running up and down the floor. He looked gassed by the end of it, but that was the point. Part of his focus right now is picking up his conditioning.“We’ve been doing conditioning, a lot more stuff on the bike,” Gallinari told the Herald. “But it’s different than when you get on a court and you actually go up and down, you try t...

2 winning Powerball tickets worth over $1M sold in San Diego County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:14 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Two Powerball tickets sold in San Diego County in recent months were worth more than $1 million, the California Lottery announced.On Nov. 5, 2022, Enrique Viquez Garcia won over $1.12M for a Powerball ticket he purchased at a Rite Aid on Manchester Avenue in Encinitas after matching five out of six numbers on his ticket.In the South Bay, Raul Ozuna won approximately $1.8 million from the Feb. 18, 2023 Powerball drawing. He also matched five out of six numbers on his ticket, which was purchased at a Shell station in the Eastlake area of Chula Vista.These two winners weren't the only local lucky lotto players recently. Earlier in May, a Powerball ticket worth about $3.2 million was sold at a La Mesa 7-Eleven store. Lottery officials have not yet announced the name of this winner. San Diego has more than $840,000 to be reclaimed by residents Two other California Lottery players recently scored big prizes in the Golden State. Mae Chielo Siendo won $2 million on a Instant C...

Jacksonville elects first female mayor, giving Florida Democrats a rare win in GOP-dominated state

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:14 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Democrat Donna Deegan’s decisive win over a Republican in the open Jacksonville mayor’s race will make her the first woman to hold the job in the Florida city’s history, sparking a flicker of hope for a besieged Democratic Party that has few levers of power in a state dominated by the GOP.Deegan, 62, a former television anchor who runs a breast cancer support nonprofit, earned 52% of the vote in Tuesday’s election to defeat Republican Daniel Davis, CEO of the JAX Chamber business group, according to unofficial results. About 217,000 people voted in the race, for a turnout of 33%.Alvin Brown’s victory in 2011 was the last time a Democrat won the mayor’s race, and he was defeated in 2015 by Republican Lenny Curry. Brown was the only Democratic mayor in the past 30 years. Curry could not run again this year because of term limits and Deegan will take over July 1.“We have made history tonight, folks. It’s a brand new day for Jacksonville, Flo...

DeSantis signs bills targeting drag shows, transgender kids and the use of bathrooms and pronouns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:14 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed bills Wednesday that ban gender-affirming care for minors, target drag shows, restrict discussion of personal pronouns in schools and force people to use certain bathrooms.DeSantis has made anti-LGBTQ+ legislation a large part of his agenda as he prepares to seek the Republican presidential nomination. He signed the bills in front of a cheering crowd at the evangelical Cambridge Christian School in Tampa. The ceremony had a campaign-like feel, with DeSantis tossing Sharpies to a crowd, as opposed to when he privately signed measures on abortion and gun rights.Democrats opposed the bills and LBTQ+ rallies were held at the Capitol during the session that ended two weeks ago, but Republicans have a super-majority in both chambers and easily approved the bills for DeSantis’ signature.“It’s kind of sad that we even have some of these discussions,” DeSantis told the crowd, standing behind a lectern with a sign reading “Let Ki...

Tupac Shakur to be honored with a street name in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:14 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The late Tupac Shakur will have a stretch of an Oakland street renamed for him after a unanimous vote by the city council Tuesday.Shakur was born in Harlem and later lived in Baltimore, Maryland; and in Marin City, California, but credited Oakland as the location where he got his “game” and launched his career, according to legislation authorizing the commemorative street renaming.A stretch of MacArthur Boulevard by Lake Merritt where Shakur once lived will keep its existing name, but also receive the additional, honorary name of Tupac Shakur Way. Commemorative plaques and signs signaling the change will be paid for by the Tupac Shakur Foundation.Oakland has honored others with street names, including Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton and rapper and record producer Too Short.Shakur was 25 when he was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996.The City Council legislation says the renamed part of the street will remind people of Sha...

Biden administration invests in carbon capture, upping pressure on industry to show results

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:59:14 GMT

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced $251 million for carbon capture and storage projects in seven states, aiming to reducing reduce planet-warming pollution from power plants and other industrial facilities.The announcement represents a vote of confidence by the government in the nascent technology, which proponents, often from oil and gas industries, say could have a huge role in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, many environmentalists note that the technology is far from scale and argue that focusing on it distracts from established renewable energy solutions. Between the direct investments announced Wednesday, billions more earmarked from legislation and public statements by President Biden and U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry, the government is increasing pressure on the carbon capture and storage industry to show that the technology can significantly help combat climate change. “We’re trying to get commercial lift off in the carbon management ind...